Get off your heels: Ankling Drill

Posted on April 4, 2014
by Coach Carl

The evils of heel-striking is a popular topic of conversation among runners. Although I don’t believe there is one true “correct” form for all runners, I agree that landing more on your mid or fore-foot is a good goal.   That might seem easier said than done...

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Balancing act

Posted on March 23, 2014
by Coach Carl

As runners we do most of our physical activity in one direction — forward and backward. Because of that, our balance often suffers. That may not seem like a big deal (especially if you run on roads instead of trails), but good balance is key...

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Essential Equipment: Foam roller

Posted on March 13, 2014
by Coach Carl

Getting started as a runner doesn’t involve a lot of gear. Sure there are GPS watches, heart rate monitors, and apparel that warms you up or cools you down. But none of that is really necessary to run. Once you’ve got a pair of running...

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How long should your long run be?

Posted on February 25, 2014
by Coach Carl

This week a friend of mine asked, "how long should my long run be?" Obviously the answer to that question depends on a number of different factors -- how long you've been running, what distance you're training for, injury history, etc.   But, as a general rule...

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Find your inner sprinter

Posted on February 8, 2014
by Coach Carl

Most distance runners aren't that fast. There's a reason that we gravitated towards cross country or marathons rather than soccer or football.   That's why when you hear runners talk about "speed" work they could mean a progression run, repeats at 5k pace, or a tempo run.  We...

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Increasing mileage safely — forget the 10% rule

Posted on February 2, 2014
by Coach Carl

One common problem I see with runners is that they increase their mileage too quickly. It's a problem I see with beginning runners as well as more experienced runners who are coming off an injury or a break in their training. In either case, the risk...

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Our lazy bodies

Posted on January 18, 2014
by Coach Carl

About seven weeks ago, I ran the Atlanta Half-Marathon. Given my training leading up to the race, I was happy with my time and felt good about the shape that I was in. Fast forward to two days ago, and I was struggling to finish a...

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